Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i noticed it a few days ago and it apears and disapears. it is right in the middle of his side. any one know what this may be? thanks

-jonathan

Does it appear and dissapear within moments or over hours/days/weeks? Does it run all the way down his body, or what other shape is it?

It could just be his ribs bending while he inhales to make himself look bigger when agitated or when breaking the skin while shedding. If it looks like his ribs are behind the bump (the bump should run from the front of his body all the way down to the base of his tail) then that's probably what it is. Not all chameleons do this, but one of my females does and I thought it was pretty scary the frist time I saw it.

Please tell me the area of the bump and it's size/shape, it might not just be his ribs.

lets see... it doesnt go away very much maybe only for a min or so and that doesnt happen much. it is just a little bump about one third down the body from the head. its probally only i millimeter or two in diamater. i am expecting him to shed soon so ill post an update and soon as he sheds. thanks.

-jonathan

What shape is the bump?
From what you describe it might be a parasite or broken bone. If he is defecating normally, then he hasn't impacted anything.
I think other ppl here need to throw in their two cents as well, i don't know what it is.

Could you post a pic? what would be ever so helpful!!!

Not too likely it is a parasite unless this cham is an older wc animal. It takes some time for nematodes to migrate out of the GI tract to become subcutaneous. One possibility is an old healed rib fracture from calcium deficiency. Cham ribs are mostly cartilege but they can show knobby bumps from mini-fractures over time. If the bump moves right along with the ribs when the cham is climbing around or gaping it might tell. Other than that, and with no skin injury right there it is really hard to say anything.